Retort-charging machine.



Patented July 30,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

f l' a l, emmen' FIL ...i12

G. WUWHWPLE & C. H. BALDWIN'.

RETQBT CHARGING MACHINE. Araucmou men una 1. wur.

6. W. WHlPPLE da C. H. BALDWIN.

BETORT CHARGNG MACHINE.

Armcmou man mui r. 19H.

i 1 ,274, 1 20. Patented July 30, 1913.4

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. W. WHIPPLE & C. H4. BALDWlN.

RETORT CHARGING MACHiNE.

nvmcm'lon msn JUNE 1, w11.

1 ,274, 120.y Patented July 3o, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3. 225 .3m 0

muy f /MLd/I Afro/mfr G. W. WHIFPLE & C. H. BALDWIN.

RETOR CHAHGING MACHHJE.v

APPucATsoN FILED :UNE 7. 19u,

1 ,274, 1 20. Patented July 30, 19m` E SHEETS-SHEET 5,

INVENTUM ya Z Jh/v, Anon/ver- G. W. WHIPPLE C. H. BALDWIN.

HETUHT CHARG'NG MACHNE.

APPLICATIGN YILEU )UNE 7. 15H.

Patented J uly 30, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 6 ,n T25 A JZ,

/ff' Arrofmfr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. WHIPPLE AND CLOISE H. BALDWIN, OF CHERRYVALE, KANSAS, ASSIGNORS T0 EDGAR ZINC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

Application filed .Tune 7, 1917.

To all whom it may; concern Be it known that we, (isolana lV. lVnirrLn and (lLoisn H. BALnwiN, citizens of the United States, residing at (lherryxale, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retort-Charging Maehines, 0i which the following is a spec-ification.

Zinc 'furnaces for roasting zine ore are usually composed ot' a number of comparatively small retorts located within a surrounding shell of fire brick or the like in which the heating` tgases are circulated. The retorts are of cylindrical shape, and slightly inclined downward at the one open end, the open ends extending through one wall of the furnace. In each furnace there are usually a large number of such retorts arranged in columns of about five retorts high so as to be easily accessible, Various schemes have been designed for charging such retorts, but; the usual practice is to charge them b v hand.y and this `is a slow and laborious operation.

The present invention provides a. machine by which the charging of these and similar retort furnaces ean be accomplished quickly and economically.

The accompanying' drawings illustrate a machine embodying the invention.

Figure l is a front elevation of the machine, partly in section and omitting1 parts of the. supporting' framework in order to show the novel elements more clearly:

Fig. 2 is a detail on an enlarged scale;

Fig. ES is a transverse section (partly in elevation and also omitting parts oi the supporting framework) taken approximately on the line -B of Fig'. l, and showing also one column ot' retorts in the furnace;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 of Fig. l;

Fig "l is an enlarged Fin'. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, more or less diagrannnatie oi part of the controlling mech-- anism for the charging plungers of the apparatus;

Fig. ti is a diagram of a` mechanism by which the chargingV cylinders are brought into position against the ends of the retorts and then shifted out of such position for lateral transfer' to the next column of retorts;

detail of part of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

serial No4 173,356.

lfig. 7 is a. diagram of a locking device for centering and holding;r the charging apparatus in proper relation with the column of retorts;

Fig. Q is a diagram of a mechanism for 60 stopping the operation of charging plungers when a retort has been filled;

Fig. 5l is a diagram of a device for spieceingr or venting the charge.

Referring to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, it will be understood that the furnace comprises a nurnber of columns of retorts A (Fig. 3), each column comprising practically any desired number of retorts and the columns being arranged alongside of each other. The rear closed end of each retort rests on a shoulder provided on a rear wall B of the furnace, and the forward end of each retort rests in an openingr within the front wall C of the furnace, the retorts being inclined downward as illustrated.

The charging machine is equipped with a row of charging cylinders D, one for each retort. and located in the line of said retort and having a tapered head E which, when the machine is moved up against the row of retorts, enters into the open mouth of its retort so as to practically close the same. Each of these charging cylinders has an opening F at the top through which it receives a eontinual supply of ore by means hereinafter described. When the charging (-vlimlers are brought into engggagement with the retorts. charging plungers within the cylinders are actuated to push a portion of the ore. indicated at G, Fig. 4, into the retort. The plunger-s are then retracted Aid again advanced to push a further quantity of ore into the retorts; these operations beingr repeated automatically and the stroke of the plungers being shortened as the filling ot' ore, in the retorts increases from their rear to their forward ends. The density of the charge of ore introduced determines the length of each stroke. For this reason, my appa ratns secures a reater density and a greater uniformity o? the charge than can he secured by hand charging methods. When a retort is completely filled the further operation of the plunger isA automatically stopped. When all the retorts in a column are filled the operator shits the machine backward a shortdistance to permit the ends of the charging cylinders to clear the front wall of the furnace, then shifts the machine sidewise to bring the chargin cylinders into line with the next column o? retorts and advances the charging cylinders into engagement with such retorts and repeats the previous charging operations. This sequence of movements is repeated until the entire series of columns of retorts is charged.

The construction of the charging plunger is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. It comprises an outer shell H and an inner shell J, the latter provided with a head K connected by a link to the upper end of an elliptical charging disk L whose lower end is hinged just wit in the forward open end ofthe shell H. When the inner shell J is advanced with relation to the outer shell H, as it is at the beginning of and during a charging movement, the charging disk L occupies the extended' position shown at the bottom of 1 sliding air Fig. 4. .In retracting the plunger however, the shell J is first drawn backward to shift the disk L to the contracted position shown in the upper part of Fig. 4, so that the complete plunger can be drawn back on a path clear of the ore which has been introduced into the retort, so as not to'drag any of the ore out.

The movements of thekcharging plunger are effected by air pressure' within the closed shell J the movement of the latter' being transmitted to the outer shell Hflthrough the charging disk L and connections above de-y scribed, Th inner shell 4J `-is therefore the main plun er, the outer shell serving to cause the esired movements of the charging disk and also to protect the inner shell from distortion by heat or other, causes. The control of the air ressure, is effected through a piston M whic Iis held stationary within the reciprocating shell J, being mounted on a fixed sup orting tube N on which the rear end O of t e shell J is mounted with the usualstutfmg box sliding on ther fixed tube. `Within the fixed piston M is a valve `P receiving air pressure from a supply tube Q. lVhen the parts arrive at theretracted position shown in the upper part of Fi 4, the central tube Q and air valve P are s ifted to the position there shown; and air from the central tube passes through the passages shown, into the forward end of the plunger, forcingJthe latter forward. At the same time the air in the rear end of the charging plunger Aescapes through the outer fixed tube N as indicated the arrows'. This position of the valve continues until the forward stroke of the plunger is completed.

The valve P is then drawn back to the position shown in the lower part of Fig. 4. Here the air coming throu h the supply tube Q asses to the rear end o the `hollow charging plunger, andthe air within the forward `by the stoppage of the plunger.

end thereof escapes through the passages indicated to the open outer tube N; all as indicated by the arrows.

The rmfiprmntion of the valve and the air pressure pipe Q is effected by the mechanism indicated in Fig. This pipe has a perforated portion passing through an air supply main R with freedom for slight longL tn dinal reciprocation. The rear end of the pipe Q is closed land is pivotally connected to one arm S of a lever which is pivoted at the center and has an opposite arm T connected to a rod U which at its forward end passes through an ear V on the side of the head f) of the plunger. The rod U is provided with collars lV and X fastencdhthereon in such positions that at the end of itsforward stroke the ear V which moves with the plunger will strike the tappet X, pulling the rodU forward and throwing the pressure pipe-Q to the rear so as to bring the valve to the osition shown in the lower art of Fig. 4 and) cause a retraction of the p unger. And at the end of its rearward movement the ear V will strike the tappet W and throw the pressure pipe Q forward, bringing the valve to the position shown at the top of Fig. 4 and causingv the next forward movement. The controlling rod U isguided'` in ears on the rear side of the bearing block X; the several bearing blocks being mounted in a rear upright frame X2 (Figs. 1 and `3) and the controlling mechanism being movement. i When such resistance is exi-,

c'ountered there is a momentary increase of Y pressure in the pipe Q and a sudden increase of pressure in a branch Y leadin der Z. In this cylinder is a piston a held at the end of its stroke by a s ring b with sufficient pressure to withstan the normal pressure in the branch Y, but weak enough to yield to the abnormal pressure induced When the piston a yields the piston rod'c moves a lever d which at its opposite end carries a roller e which strikes a tappet f fastened on the tube Q and shifts the tube Q backward to the position which causes a return of the plunger. In order to make sure of a sufficient` movement of the parts the lcyer d is Y and will complete the necessary length of strot-:fn Thus the termination of the forstroke of the charging plunger is dependent upon the resistance which the plunger meets, and as the ore in the retort gradually fills the space from the rear end toward the mouth it is packed therein to a density determined by the setting of the pneumatic apliaratus and the stroke of the plunger is gradually shortened. The succession of operations is automatic from the moment that the air pressure is turned into the mechanism.

XVe prefer also to stop the operation of the charging plunger automatically when a certain quantity of ore has been introduced into the retort. Mechanism for doing this is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 8. It is controlled by a certain quantity of air which escapes. from the cylinder Z at each operation of the latter. The cylinder Z has a small port f in its side leading to a pipe L having two branches j and In. The pipe j passes through a lug l fixed on one side of a part m connected with the charging plunger and reciprocating therewith. Pipe j has an opening u therein which is covered when the lug l is at the rear end of its stroke and is uncovered as soon as this lug advances. It is at the forward end of the stroke of the charging plunger that a pressure of air passes through the pipe Y and displaces the piston a. placement, therefore, a quantity of air is forced into the pipe But it Vescapes through the branch y' and opening n, the lug Z being in its advanced position. As the charging proceeds the stroke becomes progressively shorter. When the charging has proceeded'to the desired limit the stroke will be so short-that the lug l will not ad- Vance far enough to uncover the hole n, but will stand over this hole as indicated. This position will coincide with the admission of pressure through the pipe Y to the cylinder Z and the pipe It, being the position -at the Vend of the forward stroke.r vWhen this condition arrives a pressure of air will be forced through the branch pipe lc, which will be used to cut off the valve which controls the supply of air to the apparatusa A cam shaft 0 is used to control the supply of air` the cam p heilig in the full line position when the air valve is open, and being in the dotted line. position when the air valve is closed. l The cam shaft has an arm g which is pulled in the direction to close the valve by a spring r. When the valve is open however, the arm g is caught. by a spring latch .s mounted on a shaft t havlng an arm u 1n line with a rod u mounted to slide 1n suitable hearings and` when shifted to the rear, to move the arm u sutli ciently to release the canrshaft and allow it to spring to the closing position. The rod .till tlll' At each such dis.

o is shown in its normal position to which it is moved by the arm u. The part m which reciprocates.with the charging plunger has a` lug w in line with the rod o but which in its rearnlost position, shown in dotted lines, just strikes the end ,of the rod i: without `movingthe latter. j'When the valve is to be closed a block is thrust into the path of the lug w and is forced against the rod o to shift the latter to the rear and release the cam shaft which controls the valve. The block c is suspended by a flexible from a diaphragm a in an air chamber 2 which communicates by a. pipe 3 with the pipe la. 4.A check valve 4 interposed between the pipes o and 3 allows the air to How to ward the latter freely but, not to return except slowly through a small veut.

Now, when the charge is completed and the advance of the charging plunger has become so short thaty at the end ot' the stroke the opening in the branch j is covered and pressure is acclunulated in the pipe fz, such pressure will be exerted against the diaphragm 2 to throw down the block m so that on the short backward stroke of the phpiger the lug w will press the block a: against the end of the rod n and cause the closing of the air supply valve.

Each of the chargingr cylinders D is filled through an opening F rom a screw conveyer 5 extending longitudinally of the furnace. These longitudinal screw conveyors are supplied from transverse screw conveyers G which have their rear ends offset. Figs. 1 and 3, and filled from chutes 7 which in turn receive their supply of ore from chain and bucket elevators R. Only the uppermost chute 7 and its elevator 8 are shown, in order to avoid confusion. But it will be understood from Fig. 3 that the several chutes 7 are offset from cach other transversely so as to register with the rear ends of the conveyers G, and that the elevators 8 for the several chutes are offset in correspending planes. The lower ends of the elevators 8 take their supply from a pocket in the forward end of the common bin 9. In order to keep the charging cylinders filled an excess `of ore is continually supplied to the conveyers 5 and this excess passes out. of the discharge ends of the conveyors 5 and downward through a vertical tube 1() to a horizontal screw couvcycr 11 (Fig. 1) which conveys the material as indicated. by the arrows to the pocket 12 of the hin constituting the lower end of the boot for the elevators 8.

The bin 9 (Figs. 1 and 3a) is with means for dragging or shifting the ore therein toward the end in which the elevators are located, so as to keep the latter constantly supplied and to maintain a. substantially uniform level of ore in the bin. To keep a uniform level of ore in the pocket 12 equipped strip I1/ I of the bin a steady or constant supply is delivered to the elevator 8, thereby putting a uniform load on the driving mechanism for the elevator, and preventing undue strains or shocks that would be attendant, in the event the ore was irre llarly or unevenly fed to said. elevator. hains 13 provided with sweeps 14 are driven in the direction indicated by means of sprockets 15 and 16 mounted on shafts carrled in bearin s on the lower ends of rack bars 17 whic are raised and lowered by means of pinions 18 on overhead shafts 19. The shaft 20 carry ing the forward sprockets 15 is driven throu h beveled gearing from the forward end o a shaft 21 of telescopic construction and pivotally' mounted at its rear end above the rear end of the bin, where i is driven by suitable beveled gearing. A the rack bars 17 are' lifted` or loweredand Vthe sweeper chain with them, the driving shaft 21 will swing upward and downward about its "pivoted rear end. When the bin 9 is, say one half full, the sweeper chain will beval Vowed to rest onthe top of the ore and will operate" to maintain the latter level. As the quantity of ore'in the bin is reduced the sweeper chain will be lowered and the same conditions maintained with a full supply to theelevators until the bin is practica ly empty. This mechanism may be o erated continuously or intermittently as esired by means 'of 'the usual. clutches.

lThe shafts are driven at their rear ends beveled gears 195 (Fig. 2) on a cross shaft 22 which is driven by a belt 23 (Figs. 1 4and 3&1' from a shaft 24 driven by any .suitable means. The shaft 22 is eared by pinions '22, and 22b to nthe supp ementary shaft 25` which drives the inclined shaft 21 through beveled gears 21* and 21". The cross shaft. 22 is rovided with counter` weights 23 isuspen ed by chains or cables assing .around drums on the 'shaft so as to balance the weight of the sweeprhain and connected parts which are to be lifted and lowered. The clutches and-didier details of this mechanism are not illustrated in full since theymay be of anyusual orsuitable ty e. `he entire a paratus comprising the bin,

conveyors en charging mechanism 1s -mounted on a truck framed of longitudinal girders 24 (Fi 1 and ,3) connected at suitable interva Aby transverse 'rders 25, and mounted on wheels 26 driven y electric or other suitable motors and traveling on rails 27 runnin parallel with the front of structions on the furnace while shifting longltudinally and, after shifting, to bring the charging apparatus into close engagement with the retorts.

Any suitable mechanism may be used for this clearin shift, such for example as that shown in 4ig. 6, which represents one of a number of cylinders that constitute a shiftable connection between the main frame and the truck. The cylinder 30- is double acting so as to shift the carriage in both directions. Compressed air tanks 31 are supplied through a piston valve, the cylinder 32 `of which communicates with the charging pipes 33 for the air tanks 31 and has an in .let pipe 34 from the source of. compressed air, and vents 35 at opposite ends. When the piston 36 of the valve is at one end of its stroke it supplies air to one of the tanks 31 vand relieves the pressure in the other; and when, the piston is moved to the opposite end .it reverses the supply and relief connections of the air tanks. The tanks 31 carry a quantity o f oil and are connected at their lower ends through a valve 37 by. which the hei ht f oi `n the two tanks can be equalized e. fore operating the machine and a supplementary valve 38 between their upper ends for the same operation. The oil is forced b the compressed air from the tanks 31 throug needle valves39 which adjust the speed of `the mechanism, into the respective ends of the cylinder 30. When the control valve piston 36 is shifted to the position shown, the air pressure is admitted to the left hand tank 31 and relieved from the r ht hand tank, and oilis forced into the left and end of c linder 30, driving the iston() thereof to t e ri ht and shifting) t e piston rod 41 and the frame carrying ins, conveyers and chargers in one direction toward or from the furnace to the limitv required, The shifting of the truck is then accom lished, -or the charging of the retorts, a ter which. .the valve 36 is shifted to the opposite position and the frame carryin the bins, conveyors, and chargers is move in the opposite. direction to permit the next movement miope 'eration of the machine.

W'hen the truck is slftedalong the' lngi-` 1 l tudinal rails it is importante: Shop it M151' n.5

hold it with the charging apparatus in lincwith the ret/orte. suitable device felt this pur ose is indicated d,iagrari i. inaticalli;y 1n

It is mounted cajlfllkn... passeslongitudmally over` a fst extend from the lower end of the cylinder, the block it) having grooves embracing the guides 50. lV hen the truck has been shifted laterally to approximately the desn'ed position, the operator opens the valve 45. The block 49 is pressed down gradually on the tapered stop 42 and locks the block in posi- 'tion at the same time that it shifts it a little in one direction-or another if necessary by reason of the tapered engagement'of the block with thestop. i

-In charging retorts it is common for the operator to make a Ipassageway in the up er.

devices for the next column are operating. ()r the venting devices` may be mounted d1- rectly on the charging devices and b e operated immediately after the charge 1s completed before the machine is moved to the next column of retorts.` Each device consists of an air cylinder 51 (Fig. 9), the piston of which isconnected with a Spieceing rod The opposite ends of the cylinder are connected to an air supply tube 54 having an admission valve Three way air cocks 5G at opposite ends of the pipe 54 are connected together by a link 57 so as to more in unison and so that when one is opened the other is vented. Thus by shifting the link 5,7 in one direction the rod will be advanced. Then by shifting it in the other direction the rod will bewithdrawn. And the valve 55 may be closed when the deilice is idle.

Though we have described with great partieularity of detail a certain specific einbodixnent of our invention, vet it is not-to hc understood thciefrom that the invention is restricted to the particular embodiment disclosed. Various modifications may be made in detail and in the arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention as defined inthe following claims. And while we have assumed that electric motors `shall be used for moving` the; machine from place to placcand for driving all the parte l'or lsupplying orc to the elevators and to the, charging cylinders and that compressed air is used for the charging apparatus and the shift toward and from the retorts and for the locating and spieeeing device, and have indicated tirez-ic parts fliagrammatically in order to make the operation o1 the, apparatus clearer, yet it will be understood that these subsidiary mechanisms may be operated by any suitable motive power and may be of various other designs than those illustrated.

What we claim is:

l. A machine of the class described including in combination a charging cylinder, means for supply material to said cylinder anda charging plunger operating within the cylinder topushthe material therefrom into the retort an'd means for automatically retracting and advancing said plunger repeatedly and shortening the stroke thereof as the quantity of ore charged into the retort increasesl v2. A machine of the class described including in combination a charging cylinder, means foi` supplying material to said cylinder and a charging plunger operating within the cylinder to push the material therefrom into the retort and means controlled by density of the charge introduced into the retort for limiting the succeeding strokes of the plunger. 3. A machine of the class described including in combination a feeding device and means controlled b v the density of the material already fcdinto the retort for controllingr the further operation of said feeding device. Y

4. A machine of the class described ln- `cluding in combination a charging cylinder means fo'r supplying material to said cylinder anda charging plunger operating within 'the c vlinder'to push the material therefrom into the retort and means forautomatically stopping the operation of the plunger when the retort has been filled to the dcr-aired extent.

5. A machine of the class described iueludin'g in combination a feeding device for charging material into a retort aml meansH controlled by the quantity already charged for stopping further operation of said feeding device.

(i. A machine of the class described ineluding in combination a charging plunger a forward stroke and toa contracted posi-V tion on a rearward stroke and means operated by the plunger for swinging said disk.

8. A machine of the class described ineludmg in combinatlon a chargnig plunger for feeding material i'nto a retort, said plunger comprising on outer shell and an inner shell with a limited relative movement, and an end member which is expanded and contracted by such movement, so that the end member can be contracted on a rearward stroke to avoid dragging out material introduced on the forward stroke.

9. A machine of the class described including in combination a column of charging cylinders, conveyers communicating with the several cylinders to maintain a supply of material therein, means for feeding material from the several cylinders simultaneously into a column of retorts and means controlled bythe quantity already fed into the retorts to stop a further feeding operation.

l0. A machine of the class described 41ncluding in combination charging devices7 a bin, means for transferring material from the bin to Said charging devices and means for maintaininv a substantially uniform level of materialin the pocket of the bin in order in facilitate such transfer, said level ing means comprisin r chain sweeps adapted to be operated at diiierent levels in the bm.

11. A machine of the class described including in combination devices for charia;- ing a substantially horizontal retort with ore, and means connected with said eharg;- ing devices for making a longitudinal passageway in the upper part of the charge.

In witness` whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

GEORGE W, WHIPPLIQ. CLOISE Il. BALDlVlN. 

